Man this Terrapin takes me places. Definitely one of the best ever played.

I was at all of these June 77 Winterland shows. This one is where I decided Im on this bus for life. There was a palpable transcendent effervescent presence that night that tore the roof off the old Ice arena and allowed the brave to go hurtling through the galaxies. Across the universe untill the myriad of galaxies were like specs of dust that coalesced into a concert hall at the corner of Post and Steiner in San Francisco back on planet earth. Looking at the faces around me they too were reflecting the astonished query, did that really happen?
I looked at the stage for confirmation just as a chunk of plaster fell from the ceiling landing at Phils feet. He nodded and grinned without missing a beat. It was a pivotal night that altered the trajectory of my life.

This gives you everything. 6/9/77's H>S>F is the Grand Mothership of this medley, IMHO. All of this Winterland run is worth the investment, should you choose to shell it out...

Oh My!

I think this H>S>F is better than 5/9. Well I like the Help from 5/9 better but the Franklin's from this show kicks ass. So much energy.

Amazing show. One of my all time favorites. The night before is one to reckon with but in the end can't surpass this great night. You can't stream it because it is now an official CD release through Dead.net along with the two previous nights. It's a boxed set available through the store and even though it's $100 I recommend picking it up! It's 9 cds and 3 full shows with fantastic album art and liner notes...a great little package!

This show has my all time favorite versions of Mississippi Half Step, Loser, They Love Eachother and Music Never Stopped. I think the 1st set is actually better than the 2nd! Jerry's solo in Music Never Stopped IS ON FIRE ITS AMAZING. And his break on They Love Each Other is so on point and sophisticated...he doesn't miss a beat!

Buy this show from Dead.net you won't regret it!

- Neil, St. Louis MO

it's really cool that the encore is both US Blues AND One More Saturday Night... i mean since the two songs are so very very closely related. for many reasons... and if youre reading reviews for a show where the audio doesnt even stream i'm gonna assume you already know most if not all of those reasons. because you are a grateful dead geeeek. hahahaha haha ha

im suffering here!!

"may all that is good and wholesome nurture that which is wholesome and good"

Thank you for sharing your perspective at this very special place where there is often a surplus of negativity!

Your light will forever shine on here in your show reviews...

JustAFloatingSage said: "My bipolar has kicked my ass ... but I am still alive...Why do I cry when I listen to this stuff ... Can anyone tell me?"

Let me guess..is it because you are biploar??? Naw...you are an idiot as well if you don't know why your crying and your bipolar.

Every Grateful Dead concert is magical and beyond this world in my opinion, but that is not the point to my review here. I am making this review for the sole purpose of thanking Charlie Millier. We've all seen Bobby say "Thank You Uncle Bobo" on the closing of winterland dvd, but what i have to say is---Thank You Uncle Charlie

Yo, Charlie Dog. Hat's off to you for putting this up in its entirety. There's a matrix version on theIA that has the front end of uptown chopped, and a few other anomalies.

I miss the old Winterland, but not as much as we all miss the fat man.

Sounds real good.

you cry because it is REAL; peace & pain & unfettered joy & tenderness & power & submission all rolled into one glorious night there is (was) nothing like a GD concert because at their best, like this show, they'd lay it all out there take a chance go for the deep surrender to the moment & sometimes it aint perfect but in the end it is all just exactly perfect

Smile float on! this is one of the best of the best

Consider myself a late-comer to the Dead...never saw them live ... but always valued getting lost listening to good music ... I've been listening to these streams for a while now ...

I don't believe in God anymore ... I can't get high anymore ... I have traveled this country coast to coast so many times I can't count them ... My bipolar has kicked my ass ... but I am still alive

Why do I cry when I listen to this stuff ... Can anyone tell me ...

I had a few cassettes some Deadhead gave me in Santa Fe ... and a walkman... no idea what dates the shows were ... kept me sane when I thought life's journey was ending ...

Please don't take these recordings off the internet ... I don't have any other way to make it through life

Not of the year, but of the 70's! I would say "all-time," but I'm not quite as well-versed in 80's and 90's as I am 60's and 70's, of which I'd consider myself more than qualified to state an opinion. This is a desert-island pick for sure, and this is the best version of the show I've heard, by far.

The first set is very well played, with stellar versions of 1/2-Step and Loser, with Loser possibly being the best version I've ever heard. Jerry's mid-song solo is just exactly perfect, and he puts more emotion into it than I've ever heard in a '77 version. Also, while I'm not a big fan of LL Rain, this one is one of my favorites, and one of the few versions I don't skip, as the whole show flows so well together.

The second set is pure magic. The setlist should say it all, but setlists can be decieving. Not here, as every song is played to perfection, and I dare anyone to name a better Help>Slip>Franklin's of the 70's. Sure, there may be better Helps(5/22/77,) or Franklin's(I seriously doubt it,) but there are no better versions of the entire suite. 9/27/76 comes extremely close, but it's broken up by an Other One and Wharf Rat, so I don't know if that counts. Either way, it's breathtaking.

The St. Stephen here, coming out of an excellent Estimated Prophet, is just plain awesome, with an extended guitar solo at the beginning of the song, extremely rare for '77 Stephens. The first verse doesn't start for over 2 minutes! Very well-executed, and one of the few mid-late 70's versions I'd put up there with a '68 or '69. And while the NFA is great, it's not on the level of 5/8 or 9/3, but you can hardly give it a strike for that.

The Terrapin is played to perfection, which means it's also one of the best ever, as they rarely jammed it out during this era, so the best versions are the ones with the least amount of mistakes, and with the most emotion-filled singing from Jer Bear. Well, this is the one then. It's absolutely beautiful.

From beginning to end, a true classic.

Charlie Miller, as always, is God. Okay, A God.

This show is ridiculous. Play it from start to finish, don't skip around and listen to what you want to. Take your time with this one and let it sink in. The first set comes on slowly - everything's pretty standard 1977, great energy, etc. Songs like Half Step and Deal pack a little more punch than usual (that is actually saying a lot right there).

The first set is great and there are moments where you'll be even briefly laughing at how fun the music is. But the second set... out of this world. There's not much I can say. I'm not one to pit shows against each other so I'm not going to compare this to Cornell or anything else from '77 or any other era. But rest assured, this is worth devoting three hours of your time, however precious it may be. Trust me, you won't regret it.

p.s. I have found that, although it's sometimes interesting, I never completely enjoy the dead unless I'm completely sober. Getting high is fun and all, but it makes me too stupid to pay attention to these guys. This show is such a gem that those who usually self-"enhance" might find it worthwhile to listen to this one clean.

but i am partial to 6-7

Well folks, for me this is the one. This is the pinnacle of all the grate gloriousness of all things grateful dead. The first set is tight and well played, and the second.... well... is "just exactly perfect" and is basically a transcendental experience from beginning to end. H>S!>F is a mind bending psychedelic equivalent of climbing everest and finding a pot of gold at the top. peace

How do we rate 'The Greatest Show Ever'?

Is it even possible to say there exists one shining performance that, if stranded in a wrecked space-capsule on some distant Orb and confronted with tonally-perceptive Others and having only one Max EP, we would share as a peace offering and an example that both species could get down together? Or is there a category of the highest-degree (5 stars) that collectively represents the 'Greatest Possible' and all within the category share that designation, being equal?

I believe in the 5 stars. But I also feel there are a few examples deserving a 6th star. Or maybe a top-5 list (which would eventually evolve into a top-6000 list). Or perhaps, there is a 'TGSE'.

Then I'll open the debate here, nominating 060977 as the best. But the vault is vast you say. How can such a huge comparison be made? Well, it must begin somewhere. Set this one against 010272 (another fine coordinate) perhaps and see.

I've been a fool for this archive for years, have gone through so many different listening paths it's obsessively ridiculous, have listened to so many hours of shows it'd make your ass hurt.

A previous reviewer found some weakness in the first set with an absence of big breakers. Another reviewer saw continuity with the previous The Who run, observing power and energy. I find a simple purity and consideration on this night. If my wayward capsule is speeding across space and time en route to some strange liason with auditory intellect, Captain, set my course with the coordinates 060977.

I have decided, atleast in my humbled opinion.

Phil's bass is more active than ever. Bobby is constantly audible and dropping his reggae-twang riffs as well as many good power-strum moments. Donna and Bobby are harmonizing absolutely beautifully with a lead vocal Jerry. The vocals are beyond amazing and better than most 75 versions. As for Keith, he proves to everyone that he could still throw down in as hard as in his 73' days. Right on! Amazing, a must listen for everyone.

I was there...It WAS the best live performance I ever saw and heard, but I was tripping so hard, so stoned, and coked up that I can not recall any of it. Hell I only remember the date and the fact that it was at Winterland from my ticket stub. The recording really does not bring back any memories because I was so F'd up. But when listening to this show, I know it had to be the best show I ever went to. Thank God and the Bible for sobriety! Now that I sobered up after 15 years, I can actually enjoy all the shows that I mentally missed. This web site & Jerry & Co. sure do rock out this night and many many more.....I just wish I had more ticket stubs so I could finally hear the shows I paid for (with drug dealing $$) so many years ago....Thanks again Jerry G. You will live on forever through you awesome tunes! And this website of course. Jerry = Great. Drugs = Bad.

First set doesn't really jump out at me all that much. With the exception of Mississippi Half Step, I could leave it all.

But starting with Help!>Slipknot>Franklin's all the way through to the end of the show, the band cooks.

Great quality, tight and energetic performances all around. The lack of first set killers brings this one down to 4 out of 5 for me, though.

Best Half Step in my opinion. This whole show rocks! Hands down! One of the clearest 77's out there. Basic song selection but very loud, very on point as far as performance.

What would be the answer to the answer man?

Well, Terrapin Station, of course! Why didn't I think of that?!

This is a rockin' second set list. Very spiritual. Full of Samsons, Delilahs, Saints named Stephen, and a very special place called, Terrapin Station.

Wow! This one will take you into another dimension for a while. A very special recording. Biblical and Free!

When the GD retired in 1974, I decided to see the world, engage in possible adventure and generally, re-create. After tramping around the world, I returned to the SF Bay Area 10-10-76 and heard that the GD were with the Who at the Oakland ballyard. I was homeless, I had no money, no job, no transportation, but I went to the concert and stood near the main gate. A kind soul asked me if I wanted a free ticket and I followed him. He led me to the backstage entrance where there stood a group of friends. After introductions, this other guy walks up among us handing out tickets. We dashed into the Coliseum just as the GD hit the first few notes of MAW. Within weeks, I was gamefully employed and living with roommates in my own house. I bought a car within two months and had freedom to party.

In January 77 I read that the GD were playing Winterland for 3 nights in March. I got tix for all 3, and all 3 were great. Then, when I read that the Dead were going to be back at Winterland in June, I was wondering if the Dead would top their March run. I got tix for all 3.

The March run had been a complete metamorhosis from the Who show. The GD were like a whole other band 5 months later. It was as if the Who had rubbed off and now the Dead was this power-surged supergroup with new found energy. But could they ever top the March run? Yes, and it seems to me that each night's successive show was merely a fine seamed tapestry, one contributing and blending and building upon another until the point of spontaneous combustion.

Oh, and how!!! they did it. This new found Dead was not a fluke. This three night run in June was even more psyche altering. They not only topped the March run in spades, but each night was better, and this was the peak of the peak night.

Of the 100 shows in SF I attended, The only show of this particular mock up of the Grateful Dead that tops this show is the one on 12-29-77. After the March run, then the Movie, then the June run, it just didn't seem possible for them to top themselves. The December run was really tremendous, but you could tell they were tired and a little green around the gills. The December run didn't command the oomph that these June shows exhibited.

To me, the band's fabulous and energetic 1977 was kind of the death knell for the band. Very quickly, in 1978, this again became a job to them and it again became a business. But 1977 was the year for consistent energetic arena rock with a verve they hadn't presented in quite a while. Oh, yes, there were many tremendous shows afterwards, and throughout the remaining career ~ don't get me wrong, but I am speaking from a perspective of nostalgia. Nostalgia only recalls what it wishes to recall. Unless, of course, you are able, 30 years to the day, to hear this masterpiece and revel in it all over again.

There is a difference. Then, we saw darkly, as thru a glass, but now we see all. Except, perhaps having eyes wide open isn't all it is cracked up to be. Fate be damned. Hence we set the controls thirty years hence and paint, cut, or copy ourselves into the tunnelvision diorama of June 9, 1977.

Winterland comes alive and lives again!

This was one of my very first (2nd?) boots and it still totally blows me away. The Slipknot jam might be my favorite Dead moment of all time. Probably my favorite guitar tone ever too. Early on, I learned a lot about the Dead by comparing the Cornell jams to this show. Only a month apart but they're both different creativly, length of jams, etc...the dead still rule.

77 was the year

I know 'best of' and 'top 5' are completely subjective to each person. This is a truly grate show in a truly grate year.
Out of hundreds of outstanding shows to listen to, this show is one that I continually go back to and listen to time and time again. The sound quality and playing is superb. The whole first set is excellent, but I've always been a second set person. From the Help On The Way> Slipknot!> Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet-> Saint Stephen-> Not Fade Away-> Drums-> Saint Stephen, I am always reminded of why I love this band so much. This show is pretty close to perfect for me and definitely in my top 10 all-time. Keep On!

I cant drive or operate heavy machinery while listening to this show..... this is IT!!!

If your ears and soul are looking for that extra bit of something you just WISH you could feel like you felt after the first time......Lock horns with this 2nd set. When I was finally released from the iron grip of that Slipknot, I could not shut off the tears of joy through the whole of Franklin's. Such pure and unadulterated BLISS!!!!!That thick, cozy Winterland sound, too! Another 77' high-water mark for the Band and us listeners. Thank you, Grateful Dead. And a big SHOUT OUT to Muscle Shoals
finest, the lovely Ms. Donna Jean Godchaux!!!!

whether the version which used to be available on gdlive (wink wink) is/was the same source as the board here ??

East Coast Mark is right my brother....Simpler times indeed.. One of the best 70's show's period...

Excelent sound quality. This is an excelent set list with power. The boys were on this night. Donna even was on for this show. Many times I add a show to faviorites and forget why. Listening to this show reminds me why we have favorites. Damn I miss the boys and the shows. Archive is such a blessing, to be able to go back to a simpler and gentler time.

It just never ends, fantastic!! 1/2 step better than Garden? It's good, but not 5/7/77,9/3/77 or 11/7/77 good. Sure they did Estimated every night but they nailed it! It's strange to think this band played Samba in the Rain 15 years later.:)

Why is it that in my peak time of tape trading, I never got my hands on this sucker? 5/8/77 and 5/9/77 take a backseat to this one as far as I'm concerned. Check out the AUD, even the AUD smokes...
What makes this so great? It's not just the inspired setlist (Estimated->St. Stephen->NFA->St. Stephen->Terrapin anyone?) and it's not just the ultra tight and energetic 1977 playing, it's 'what makes the Grateful Dead so special?' on 3 cds.
Alright, so maybe the first set isn't totally mind-blowing, but after that smokin' Samson and Delilah, the 'Help>Slip>Franks' is about as epic as they come. 'Estimated' is cool and funky as hell, the Stephen>NFA>Stephen>Terrapin>Sugar Mag sequence is as hot as it sounds. Awesome.
This is a must-have and definately worth downloading the AUD version.

What an inspired night - the deathless Dead - it takes your breath away.

& thanks, otherdeadhead

look up in your url box...
it should say http://www.archive.org/details/gd1977-06-09.28614.sbeok.flac16
highlight "details" and change it to "download" and hit enter. up comes a list of all the files. right click on each one of them and go "save file as..." only mp3's are downloadable, not the shn's.

btw, this a great show. enjoy it:)

RG
Drop me an email..jhender501@aol.com


Jim




I thought I'd downloaded this show but I guess I didn't. Oh well..hopefully I can find it somewhere. But..this HAS to be one of the all time best. Right now after my third run through of the show I have to say that it is my all time
favorites. Not a dull moment anywhere.

Jim

thanks for the help but when i download the concert it wont open up in any music program. its an "unknown file"

have any idea what to do?

This show is available at gdlive dot com....in shn format...don't know if it's the same SBD source or an AUD.

You can get it if you really want...

any other places to get these concerts as downloads?

can streamed concerts be put on an ipod?

any help would be good post a review

unbeleivable show by the way

Truly beautiful, powerful, streaming music... Who needs downloads? If you've heard it, you already own it!!.....but shhhhhhhhh....so others can still hear :)

Weir rules!

After almost thirty years it's wonderful to hear this show again in full stereophonic glory. This may be the one you take with you to that proverbial deserted island, it's that good. Overall, it's one of the strongest shows all year, which is saying a lot for '77. Finest 1/2 Step ever? Help/Slip/Franklin's is a delight. A crystaline recording, vocals are clear and guitars are stinging! Jerry is on fire throughout, as is everyone else. I got a little toasty during the show (yeah, I was there... really!) and don't remember much, but I know I enjoyed it. Have a listen, you'll enjoy it too! Five stars all around.

When you listen to this performance, something magical happens. You can feel that they had really put something together with this set. The happenings are ritualistic in a sense that they evoke such profound experience even if you are just lying in bed at night, on no particular night. A living time machine indeed. I dare anyone to listen to this Terrapin & say that The Grateful Dead is not truly doing something awesome for humanity. My thanks goes out.
~

The amount of care and love you can hear coming out of this recording is just overwhelming. That's what we listen for, and you could almost always feel that coming through from the event, still alive in the recording, putting those reverberations out into the universe, but this one is just way above the usual. There is something about the way Bobby starts off saying they couldn't start until everything was just right. You can hear the band at their most precise, and powerful, right here. Amazing.

Sorry folks that last review was for the 2/24/74 show. But while I'm here I'll give ya my 2 cents about this this. 6/9/77 was a magical night, according to my old friend who was there that night. Vintage Grateful Dead. Excellent sound. My friend says "this was the night my nose fell off my face". After listening to this show I can see where he's coming from.

Let me tell you about my experience with this show. Back in the mid-1980's I got my hands on a sdbd cassette copy of this show. I carried it with me everywhere I went and played it all the time. Through the years it wore down and I lost the tape. This entire show is not only magical but IMHO has some sort of Divine intervention. This recording is crystal clear and it's mind boggling to imagine how human beings can make music like this. Since I've gotten my hands on this soundboard copy I've listened to it A LOT. The Morning Dew is the best ever!!! (Augusta MN. 1984 is a close 2nd). When I catch a buzz and turn off the lights, light a candle, and listen to this Dew, it's beyond description. Many times I've had an out of body experience where (during the Dew) my spirit and soul is litterally transported back to 1974 and I'm in the Winterland Arena. I can feel the energy and feel what the band (esp. Jerry) is experiencing at that moment in time. I've tried this with other shows and songs but never had the powerful transformation in time like this Morning Dew. This is all without LSD. The last jam in AM Dew I can feel A presence guiding Jerry, that jam is not only the band but SOMETHING else too. The end of the show is soooooo sweet. The end of Not Fade Bobby is litterally shredding his vocal chords, Not Fade AWAAAAAAAAAAAY. The best and sweetest Baby Blue ever!!! Make sure that when you listen to the Dew you have it turned up loud. Jerry and the band bring this to a whisper and he fizzles the notes away. If anyone knows of other shows out there that they have had this type of experience please email me and let me know: scottlacey2000@msn.com

This show is absolutely amazing, I take Boston Garden 05/07/77 with me everywhere I go simply for the Mississippi Half>Big River, but this is true quality. The link a few reviwers ago gave for a free download is not longer valid, and other placed to pick up a free download of this show.

The way the boys slide into the second part of half-step...it just eases you down real soft-like. Oh yeah, the second set for sure grabs you by the boo boo. A must have.

I spent many years and money on something I love....
........I have nothing more to say but it is unbalanced somehow. The whole thing is that I get lovd back. If I don't get back what I've given.......I've lost my heart for this band.

is freely downloadable at
http://gdlive.com/shn/gd77-06-09.shnf/

amazing stuff wish i could buy it?

That's right, you won't find many Dick's Picks or any other commercial releases that are better than this. The show is 5-star all the way.

Sound quality is excellent, better than a lot of commercial stuff and on par with the rest.

The setlist is strong. I'm not really picky with setlists and most (maybe all) of the '77 stuff appeals to me. Anything that does not include Dancin' is fine by me.

Donna is okay and really doesn't get in the way, which is as much as you can ask from her IMO. This version of Sunrise does not compare to 5/22/77 but it's not something I'm ever inclined to skip over either; it's a good listen.

Energy is good, the band is definitely on. There are a lot of excellent moments in this show with no one part really standing out to me, just a very solid, strong show throughout.

Bottom Line: This show is excellent, better than a lot of commercial stuff and on par with the rest. I could see this being packaged up and sold in the future. I've listened to a lot of '77 Dead and this is up there with the best shows of the year. I would put it behind 5/22 but only because of the amazing 2nd set on 5/22. Listen to this show and you will not be disappointed. Get a copy if you can, you will not be disappointed.

I might have said this before,but it really
does'nt get any better. Being at this show It was a godsend. Long Live the Dead!

This Show Is Epic. "You can Look around about the wide world over, but you'll never find another honest man."

It's well known that the spring 77 tour was a hit, this was the cherry on top of the sunday. Loser is sweet, Jerry's Solo in Sunrise is not to be missed, Mississipi is better than Boston Garden, yes it is, while Franklin's Tower seems to justify any two drumer wows for the year, and is one of a kind, they stop on a dime and then just tear it up, intoxicating.

email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com happy to share with good listeners

great way to end arguable the greatest single tour in the bands career packed with a beautiful ms half step and an amazing loser the second set is incredible the est and the st>nfa>drums>st>terrapin u must have the shown one criticism is that the sugar mags was just plain weak especially for this momumental tour ender the sunshine daydream is on though my review is a bit sloppy i know but this is a must have for any that can get their hands on it a
stars: solid 4.5
sound: solid 5

Being that this is the actual day I was born I have to give this show 5 stars, aside from the fact that this is a probably one of the tour highlights from 77.

Are so sweet along with rest of the show.
Top notch prime Dead.

Recording quality is amazing. Show quality is awesome.

This is great show to listen to if you are interested in hearing Bobby's amazing and innovative playing.


As a side note, I just finished reading both Phil's book and What a Long Strange Trip and think it is funny that the Spring/Summer of 77 is very much glossed over. It makes me think that the band may have felt stagnated at this time, while the fans were enjoying the fruits of a soild interplay between players. Two sides of the same coin, I guess.

A truly great show from a great year! Thank you all that make these possible... It is out there jhender501, I'm downloading it right now, cush212@yahoo if you're interested.

This recording is of the finest quality. The best of the best. Can clearly hear the vibrato in both Jerry's voice and guitar. The band is rocking. I like the idea of Archive users sharing their existing downloads with each other.
Everyone should have acess to this music when and where they choose to listen.

Listen to this now, and listen to it multiple times. The band is on home turf after a great tour, and are blistering. It's hot from the start, filled with great jams, perfect vocals, and perfect guitar work. One of the best first sets of the year. It starts with a top-notch Mississippi, Deal, Jack Straw, Cassidy, etc, etc, all high energy. Help on the Way doesn't often get mentioned, but it's great here, as is Slipknot. The first half of this Franklin is as hot as they get -- the second half is a bit repetative, though St. Stephen->NFA is superb (as good as those in '76, which are quite good.)
The sound is clear and balanced, and the set list is like a best of '77.

this show is simply stunning. i am reaonably new to downloading dead shows but am finding that 77 is my favourite year. totally amazing quality. so clear and alive sounding, crystal clear in fact. loads of my favourite songs (deal, music, samson,help>slip>franklins) sounding as if they could not be bettered. best shows ive heard so far, hands down. thank you to all involved.

Heya. All I can say is listen to the crowd right after that Sunrise. Doesnt sound like anyone was bitchin about Donna's voice just then does it. Like Jerry said, the critics are always wrong. This is probably the sickest show Ive ever heard as far as dynamics, and I've only gotten to the LooksLikeRain. Jerry's just friggin PREACHIN with that guitar. damn almost bust a couple tears just then. Peace.

One of the top 5 for 1977....I could bore you with the details but I won't.Tune it in.Turn it up.And rock it out....

No doubt. No doubt...This is all that they before me say. In fact each time I listen it's a little bit more. Absolutley a great show to DL and listen too(over and over again...My wife's really gonna flip now..HA!) The sound is great and I am gonna go out on a western plane and drop the 5 bomb and I dont care! PS...she'll get it someday (I hope:) )

Oh, but Cornell's better....BLAH BLAH BLAH! People rave about cornell but honestly I rarely listen to it. This show is just as good, if not better. From start to end its just amazing. This recording is top notch. Crystal clear. Any fan of the dead will appreciate this recording. I really dont have anything else to say about it except just download it cause it looks like rain!

The previous reviewer hit the 'head on the nail' as a good friend of mine once said in an altered state, so I will just say I agree with him 100%. Half Step - my personal favorite is the awe inspiring ferocity of the 5-7-77 version... Just mind blowing the level they take that song to that night... Thanks once again to the master, Charlie Miller!

In any other year, this would be the show of the year, but in 1977, I have to rank this one as #2 to Cornell, but it's damn close. So close in fact, that while listening to the second set last night, I thought, just for a minute, wow, this might actually be better, but then I booted up the stephen>nfa>stephen>dew from Cornell and came to my senses.

All that said, this is just a sick sick show. The just exactly perfect 1/2 step is one of, if not THE hottest 1/2 steps of '77 (right up there with the Englishtown Raceway version). See also the TLEO and MNS as the highlights of the 1st set (I'm not a big LL Rain or Sunrise fan).

The 2d set produces the #1 HSF of all time, it's just that simple. While 5/9 is strong, it just does not hold a candle to this version. The Slipknot nods in the general direction of stronger than dirt from Kezar March 75 and spirals around phil's ever present carpet bomb boomlets, flirting with avant garde jazz themes and generally kicking the ass of any listener who dares enter the Dead's creative realm. Jerry's voice on Franklin's is pure honey and the bop diddy bop bounce of the bass line and the guitar leads that stretch fo'ever ... wow. 31 plus minutes when all is said and done. Even as Franklin's is melting away, Phil goes Hiroshima to announce the onset of Estimated (sub woofer be forewarned) and Jerry just LEEEEANS on that wa wa. Some might say that Estimated was overplayed in '77 (and you might have a point) but part of that overplaying allowed for alot of experminentation with the tune, this is a hot version. The Stephen>NFA>Stephen does not match the aforementioned Barton Hall version (then again NO version does) but it's still hot hot hot .. and even more so as they seque into a hot Terrapin Station>Sugar Mags closer. Double encore, what more could you want?

In a year of so many ridiculously great shows, this TRULY stands apart. Do yourself (and your ears) a favor and get this show, POST HASTE.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION

Hey Steve,
Great story. These discs do come directly from the vault master reels (I can confirm that there are no extra cass gens involved). Also, you know me (probably just by face and not by name). You hooked me up a lot in 93. Thanks!!!!

cm

And It Just Got Better!!
Thanks for the upgrade, Charlie Miller and the Archive/Etc.
Holy Cow! sums it up nicely but just to be fair, here's a sampling of the reviews of this show got from the other source:

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July 28, 2005
Reviewer: Tampa Red

Subject: GDTS Royalty is in the house
Hey Steve, thanks for all those filled orders over all those years! Really appreciate the New Year's Tickets in 1990, and those seats four rows from the stage for my last show at Tampa Stadium in 1995. Without the mail order, I wouldn't have seen even a tenth of the shows I saw. Thanks for helping me have the most fun I ever had!


July 24, 2005
Reviewer: smarcus

Subject: 6/9/77 When I truely got ON THE BUS!
I had been seeing the Grateful Dead on and off since May of 1967 (I had first seen Jerry Garcia perform in 1961 with Robert Hunter at my elementary school, I was 8 1/2). I went to the 6/7/77 show and was blown away, so I decided to go back for the 6/9/77. I came away absolutely stunned and to this day it is probably the best Grateful Dead show I've ever been too, or at least in the top 3-5. I craved this show, but didn't actually get a tape of it until 1979 when I got a really bad audience tape from a co-worker at BASS tickets in Oakland named David Gans. I lived with that tape until 1983 when I started working for the Grateful Dead (setting up Grateful Dead Ticket Sales). After about two or three weeks there, Phil Lesh came up to me in the kitchen of the main office and told me that everyone was happy to have me there and gave me his home phone number and told me to call him if he could ever help me. I thanked him and sheepishly asked him if it would be possible to get tapes of some shows out of the vault. He said sure as long as I didn't go crazy. I told him I was only interested in one show and that was 6/9/77. He said he would work on it. About three weeks later a little package was left in my mail slot at the office, it contained cassette copies directly off the vault masters of 6/7/77, 6/8/77 & 6/9/77 with a note from Phil saying that he forgot which night I wanted so he had copies of all three made. Well, I had never heard such sound quality of a live Dead show that had not been on record. In fact, in the beginning of the Grateful Dead Hour Gans used my copies for the show. I still have those tapes and I have burned them all directly from the cassette's to CD. I don't know if this copy comes from mine, but it still sounds great!!!!


June 25, 2005
Reviewer: rollandfin

Subject: yes it is yes it is
we are apparently going to debate between the 5-9-77 H-S-F and this one for a long long time, I will admit that the difinitive virsion of Help was played in Buffalo, but Slipknot thru Franklins Tower was mastered at the Winterland. See, Buffalo ain't as lame duck as it might seen, One Dead President, and one Smokin Help, a pretty slow 76 years in between but well worth it. This "i repeat" this is the stuff dick's picks should be made of, sure it's well curculated, but it's got pitch problems and a cut here and there. released as a pick, provided the vault copy is healthyer??? who wouldn't want an upgrade of this one?! post the obscurites for the hardcore heads to sift through, remaster and sell the cannons! 77 stars


June 24, 2005
Reviewer: devlin

Subject: High energy
High energy from start to finish. Great first set, incredible second set. In my opinion, one of the best Gd show ever.


June 22, 2005
Reviewer: andrew m

Subject: Smokin'...
This is a great show all the way through... Very strong Half-Step to open, with Cassidy, Deal and MNS very strong in the first set as well, but the real beauty of this show is the gem of a second set... Samson is smokin' as always, but the Help>Slip>Frank is just about the best thing ever... This Slipknot kicks so much ass... Way, way out there, and back strong into an all-timer of a Franklins... But we're only just beginning.. Check out Phil's huge intro to Estimated... Blow the walls down, will ya? And from there, the rest of the setlist speaks for itself... Good stuff all the way through...


May 26, 2005
Reviewer: august 1031

Subject: helpslipfrank!
This is a monster version of my favorite suite of songs, @10 minutes longer than the 5-09-77 a month earlier which for me is the definative version. This performance of Help starts off with a quick pace and great energy moves pretty quickly into a long spacey Slip. Franklins is very long at 17 minutes and does contain some great moments especially the last 4 minutes or so which wrap up the song in a nice breezy relaxed fashion. Anyway the show is a definate 5 star, the help slip frank is a 4, it just meanders a bit to much for my tastes but thats probably why some folks love it so much. For other great performances of helpslipfrank check out 5-9-77 (the Sound Board offered on this site is one of the best!),8-13-75,10-09-76,and to hear a great later version try 6-14-91(view from the vault 2).


May 07, 2005
Reviewer: darkstarpat

Subject: Pure Energy
The energy on this Franklin's Tower is out of this world. Listen to Jerry urging on the band and the crowd. Great show. A month to the day after the phenomenol buffalo Help>Slip>Franklins.


May 04, 2005
Reviewer: psylo1979

Subject: incredible show
well, this could be one of the best GD show ever. no need to say more, I've been looking for this dream show for years.


April 12, 2005
Reviewer: TimePilot

Subject: MNS = Heat
I have only listened to the first set so far. It doesn't really pick up until Deal, which is decent. Then LL Rain is a semi-snore. Then...THE HEAT! One of the best MNS's I have ever heard. I can't wait to hear set II!!! I will update my review when I'm done listening, but for now, 5 stars for no mistakes, great sound (except the Sunrise patch from a degraded SBD) and a SMOKIN' MNS!


March 17, 2005
Reviewer: stratocaster

Subject: Estimated>St. Stephen
amazing segue between the two songs and this is definitely one of the more challenging transitions that they could attempt...it's one of those Dead moments in which you have to listen to the musical passage repeatedly...excellent...Help Slip Franklins features one of the best Slipknots played...awesome quality


February 04, 2005
Reviewer: flashbackmagic

Subject: incredible show but.
If i had not just got done listening to 10/11/77, it would be spectacular. Sorry to say the Hlp>SLP>FNKLNS from october absolutely laid the song to rest,as it was not revived until the 80s. Not to take away from the version here, its ashame i l;istened to the m back to back. If you havnt yet, please DL 10/11/77 lol I never said this H/S/F didnt smoke!


December 22, 2004
Reviewer: Rivertrance

Subject: THE Best!
I have a copy of the cassette from the vault (Thanks, Steven Marcus!), and in my humble opinion, this is the best show I have ever heard. No less than David Gans says that he never gets tired of hearing this show. The second set is pure magic. If you don't have this show, download it NOW!...:-)


December 08, 2004
Reviewer: icecreamjay

Subject: ENERGY!!
Well I haven't heard 10/11, but I had this on cassette and its one of my favorites. Set 2 is a monster. It seems as though the band was pissed off about the technical difficulties and when they finally kick into the Help on the way it's with a vengeance. In my mind it seems as though the band is powered by a healthy helping of fine columbian powder if you know what I mean. Probably the most aggressive uptempo version I've heard. I have to say this one and the One from the Vault version from 75 are my favorites. Oh yeah the sound quality is superb and the song selection is excellant. Worth the download for set 2 alone. ps - check out 1-22-78, no help slip franklins, but another juicy set 2.


November 01, 2004
Reviewer: 4x4

Subject: flashbackmagic
Is insane....this help>slip>franklin's SMOKES 10/11/77. It's my favorite of the year....Jerry absolutly TEARS it up after the third and fourth verses. Def check out this cassidy and st. stephen as well.


August 21, 2004
Reviewer: sheikyerbouti

Subject: outrageous show
I got my first copy of this as an audience in '82 and played this until it fell apart - repaired it and then a beer fell on it at a frat party and it was curtains from there so thanks to whomever it was that donated this!! As a funny aside my copy had a dude that had eaten way way too much acid and was just ranting out requests the whole first set - by the time finiculi finicula rolled around with a last gasp he howled 'play anything... play anything.... I don't caaaaaruuh'- been there pal someone stole the face right off ur head. Not to be long-winded but this show is worth it half step opener usually a good sign, music... sampson and the rest of the 2nd set clear through just explode with musical energy. If anyone ever tries to explain why we love this band so much start them with this..... enjoy, I sure have+


May 28, 2004
Reviewer: drosenbe

Subject: second set = amazing
I don't think the first set is all that amazing, but the second set is one of the best I've ever heard. It combines all of the best songs that were normally put in the second sets of '77 (other than of course scarlet>fire) with some awesome playing.


May 21, 2004
Reviewer: John Hell

Subject: Damn good show
One of my top five fave's for theyear. Get this show just to hear Bobby count down the end of Slipnot!


April 16, 2004
Reviewer: TomP

Subject: An all-time great
Awesome from start to finish. Many people's all time favorite, including Steve Marcus of the Dead's staff (i.e. he should know :-). Second set is one of the truly perfect jams, but first set is great too. Garcia is just eloquent thruout. Check out previous nite 6-8 too. First nite of the run 6-7 is totally outclassed by these too.


April 12, 2004
Reviewer: dr. flashback

Subject: top 5!
The Dead played 3 runs at Winterland in 1977 - March,June and Dec.and all are worth collecting.This was their last show of the June run and their last summer show for 1977! Do they pull out all the stops? You betcha! The 1st Set is short but high energy playing throughout. Even Sunrise is good! But the 2nd Set is unbelieveable. One of the best Help>Slipknots of 1977, with a St.Stephen>NFA>St.Stephen that rivals Cornell 5/8/77. And a Terrapin to boot! One of the Doctor's top 5 for 1977. Play this one going down the road sometime - you'll get there! Dr. Flashback :-)